2K LINEUPS: THE STARTERS

Being an avid player of 2K, I thought it would be interesting to think about my ideal line-ups. When you go around the league, there are certain players that have one amazing talent, which is the reason they are in the league. Whether it’s their ability to stretch the floor, create havoc on the defensive end, or just have an overall athleticism that most can only dream of. Then you have your players that are just elite at everything, the type of players you build your franchises around. Another thing you have to consider when you run these line-ups is the chemistry between the players. You can only have so much star power because certain players demand a certain amount of touches, or they become unhappy. I tried to keep that in mind when I was making these, so you guys let me know what you guys would change, or if you agree with me. There will be more in-depth reasoning on the starting line-up because I feel like specialty line-ups explain themselves. The object behind this is not using the same player twice, so here I go!

Starting 5

Point Guard: Damian Lillard – The reason I chose the Portland centerpiece isn’t all based on talent, or even track record. There are guys I feel that have proven themselves much more, but there is something about his persona that makes me believe he’s the type of player you would want to run your team during the closing minutes for years to come. There is not much he can’t do on the offensive end. Whether it’s going through contact to make an acrobatic finish, pulling up from god knows where with the confidence that he can hit it at any point in the game, or going above the rim to change the momentum of the game. As a passer, he has shown that he can make the right decision with the ball no matter how hot of a hand he might have. Nothing too flashy, but he always has his head up to find his teammates. Another huge thing is his loyalty to his city. The way he has embraced the city of Portland ever since he was drafted is something special. Having the fan base behind you is very under rated, but you can really feed off the energy in the building and Lillard has a knack for making people believers.

Shooting Guard: Jimmy Butler – The former Marquette star has certainly found his groove in Chicago. The best thing about Butler is his energy on both ends of the floor. He takes pride in shutting down the other team’s best player, and also outdoing that same person on the other side. You never have to question his effort while he’s on the floor, and he’s proved that he can be a workhorse while Tom Thibodeau was the coach of the Bulls. Since Fred Hoiberg took over, Jimmy has been able to continue his growth on the offensive end and has become arguably the best overall shooting guard in the league. The reason I feel like this would be the best choice for the 2 guard is his determination to be great, and never settling for anything. His type of laser-focus is what you need to be able to make it through a 82 game season and playoffs without any hiccups.

Small Forward: Paul George – This one might surprise people, because obviously two of the most marketable people in the league are LeBron James and Kevin Durant. You couldn’t go wrong with any of these guys, but there is something about George that I haven’t been able to fully grasp, but I really do love his game. You really never know what he is going to do on a night to night basis because his skillset is so diverse. He might have a night where he makes 8 three’s, then the next night come close to a triple double, and the next come out and try to dominate the post because of the match-up he is getting. I love the fact that he is able to embrace, understand, and act upon whatever is thrown at him. Whether it’s being asked to move positions, rehab through a gruesome injury, or just put the team on his back, he always finds a way to come through on the bright side. On top of all that, he never backs down from competition. He is always will to take the bull by the horns and ride it out regardless of what he might have to put himself through.

Power Forward: Paul Millsap – There is plenty of more overall talented players in the league at the 4 position, but how could you pass up having this guy on your team? Whatever you need done, he makes sure it is. He is one of the most respected players in the league because of his professional approach to everything. Millsap in my opinion is the key to Coach Budenholzer copycat system of the Spurs. Night in and night out, you know what you are getting from him. You never have to run plays for him, and you never have to worry about him complaining about touches. He just goes out there and plays the game he loves. Having a player like this in your line-up is important because he enforces his presence on the other team without always having the ball.

Center: Andre Drummond – Out of the University of Connecticut, Drummond was criticized for leaving earlier than he should have. It showed when he got to Detroit, as he experienced some problems with being under-developed and just not ready for the rigors that is the NBA. Year by year, you saw improvement, and this year he seems to finally to have put it together. The man has become a double-double machine, and is a relentless force on both sides of the court. While you can run plays through him, he really does not need them to produce on offense. He is very much improved his footwork and touch around the basket. His biggest asset is his rebounding ability. When you know your big man is going to go for at least 10 every night, it puts confidence in your shooters and also gives your guards less responsibility to crash the boards and push the ball. I love what Drummond has done with his game, and I can only imagine what else he will do since he is still only 22.